The Airplane Boys among the Clouds | Page 8

called the Siamese Twins, because we won't be
separated. Where one Bird boy is found you can make up your mind
the other isn't very far away. Once on a time they got to calling me
Smoke, and Andy, Fire; but we just wouldn't stand for that."
"But possibly your machine may not fly quite so well with only one to
balance!"
Was that a broad hint that he would be only too glad of an invitation to
occupy the seat left vacant by the departure of Andy? Frank suspected
such a thing; and made a quick reply.
"Oh! we've got all that arranged to a dot, sir," he laughed. "I can change
my seat, and still reach every lever easily. And as to balancing, the time
has come when the aviator is going to be freed from all that anxiety.
Give me a start, will you, fellows? It's easier rising from the water than

on land, because no stumps or roots get in the way there. That's it.
Good day, sir!"
There was a whirr of the powerful little Kinkaid engine, the lightest
ever installed in an aeroplane, and immediately the new biplane started
to take on speed. When, in the estimation of the one who handled the
flier, it has attained sufficient momentum, the planes were elevated, and
like a great bird it gracefully began to mount upward into space.
Larry was watching the two gentlemen in the car, who had been paying
the closest attention to every little detail. He saw Mr. Marsh turn his
head, and nod several times quickly to his companion.
"As neatly done as I ever saw it accomplished," the gentleman muttered,
though the sharp ears of Larry Geohegan caught the suggestive words.
Then, after a few pleasant words to the two boys who had been fishing,
the men in the touring car started off, heading toward town, and were
speedily lost to sight in a cloud of dust.
"Let's take the short-cut, and bring up at the field where Frank and
Andy do pretty much all of their practice, turning, and cutting
figure-eights," suggested Larry, as though he had a purpose in saying
this.
"Oh! I guess I'm still able to toddle that far," remarked Elephant who
was compelled to work his short legs very fast when trying to keep
alongside the taller Larry; and yet these two, so unlike in almost every
way, had long been known as inseparables, ready to have an occasional
little spat, yet just as quick to pour oil on the troubled waters again.
"There's Andy turning out," remarked Larry, after a while. "Perhaps, if
you could only get going a little bit faster we might overtake him
before he reaches home. I reckon he means to head for the shop in the
field, because I know he always keeps a lot of old duds there."
"Sure thing," assented the dwarf, cheerfully, as he started on what was
for him very like a run. "And it would be just like Andy to want to help

when Frank comes along with the new biplane. Say, ain't she a dandy,
though? Did you ever see such a neat contraption? Guess them gents
thought we had some pretty smart fellows in Bloomsbury."
"That's just what I was thinking, Elephant," remarked Larry, "but here
we are at the edge of the old field, and Andy just ahead. See that, he's
aiming for the shop in the middle of the patch, where the hangar lies
that holds their old monoplane. Perhaps you could buy that cheap now,
Elephant. You know you always declared you meant to take up flying
some day."
"Haven't given it up yet, either," returned the other, doggedly.
"Well, I advise you to think it over good and hard. Remember the fate
of Darius Green. It needs a mighty active fellow to manage one of
those tipsy, cranky machines. And if you ever should fall out I bet you
there'd be an awful squash!" chuckled the tall boy.
"Let up on that, can't you?" expostulated Elephant. "I'm small, but I can
get around as well as the next one. And when I get to sailing through
the air, I expect to have wings. Then, if any accident comes along, it's
me to flap my feathers, and drop like a thistle-down. In other words,
Larry, I've got a parachute all arranged that will let me down easy; just
like the fellow at the county fair, who drops from a hot air balloon."
"Hello! now what d'ye think of that?" claimed Larry, suddenly.
"What do you mean?" demanded the small boy. "You're the most
mysterious fellow ever. Oh! I see now, by the way you stare over
yonder. Yes, it's the same two gentlemen who admired the daring of the
Bird boys a